第48章

CHAPTERXXII

FOOTTOFOOT

Whentherewerenolongeranyoftheleadersleftalive，exceptEnjolrasandMariusatthetwoextremitiesofthebarricade，thecentre，whichhadsolongsustainedCourfeyrac，Joly，Bossuet，FeuillyandCombeferre，gaveway。Thecannon，thoughithadnoteffectedapracticablebreach，hadmadearatherlargehollowinthemiddleoftheredoubt；there，thesummitofthewallhaddisappearedbeforetheballs，andhadcrumbledaway；andtherubbishwhichhadfallen，nowinside，nowoutside，had，asitaccumulated，formedtwopilesinthenatureofslopesonthetwosidesofthebarrier，oneontheinside，theotherontheoutside。

Theexteriorslopepresentedaninclinedplanetotheattack。

Afinalassaultwasthereattempted，andthisassaultsucceeded。

Themassbristlingwithbayonetsandhurledforwardatarun，cameupwithirresistibleforce，andtheserriedfrontofbattleoftheattackingcolumnmadeitsappearancethroughthesmokeonthecrestofthebattlements。Thistime，itwasdecisive。

Thegroupofinsurgentswhoweredefendingthecentreretreatedinconfusion。

Thenthegloomyloveoflifeawokeoncemoreinsomeofthem。

Many，findingthemselvesunderthemuzzlesofthisforestofguns，didnotwishtodie。Thisisamomentwhentheinstinctofself—preservationemitshowls，whenthebeastre—appearsinmen。

Theywerehemmedinbythelofty，six—storyhousewhichformedthebackgroundoftheirredoubt。Thishousemightprovetheirsalvation。

Thebuildingwasbarricaded，andwalled，asitwere，fromtoptobottom。

Beforethetroopsofthelinehadreachedtheinterioroftheredoubt，therewastimeforadoortoopenandshut，thespaceofaflashoflightningwassufficientforthat，andthedoorofthathouse，suddenlyopenedacrackandclosedagaininstantly，waslifeforthesedespairingmen。Behindthishouse，therewerestreets，possibleflight，space。Theysettoknockingatthatdoorwiththebuttsoftheirguns，andwithkicks，shouting，calling，entreating，wringingtheirhands。Nooneopened。Fromthelittlewindowonthethirdfloor，theheadofthedeadmangazeddownuponthem。

ButEnjolrasandMarius，andthesevenoreightralliedaboutthem，sprangforwardandprotectedthem。Enjolrashadshoutedtothesoldiers:"Don’tadvance！"andasanofficerhadnotobeyed，Enjolrashadkilledtheofficer。Hewasnowinthelittleinnercourtoftheredoubt，withhisbackplantedagainsttheCorinthebuilding，aswordinonehand，arifleintheother，holdingopenthedoorofthewine—shopwhichhebarredagainstassailants。Heshoutedtothedesperatemen:——"Thereisbutonedooropen；thisone。"——

Andshieldingthemwithhisbody，andfacinganentirebattalionalone，hemadethempassinbehindhim。Allprecipitatedthemselvesthither。

Enjolras，executingwithhisrifle，whichhenowusedlikeacane，whatsingle—stickplayerscalla"coveredrose"roundhishead，levelledthebayonetsaroundandinfrontofhim，andwasthelasttoenter；andthenensuedahorriblemoment，whenthesoldierstriedtomaketheirwayin，andtheinsurgentsstrovetobarthemout。

Thedoorwasslammedwithsuchviolence，that，asitfellbackintoitsframe，itshowedthefivefingersofasoldierwhohadbeenclingingtoit，cutoffandgluedtothepost。

Mariusremainedoutside。Ashothadjustbrokenhiscollarbone，hefeltthathewasfaintingandfalling。Atthatmoment，witheyesalreadyshut，hefelttheshockofavigoroushandseizinghim，andtheswooninwhichhissensesvanished，hardlyallowedhimtimeforthethought，mingledwithalastmemoryofCosette:——"Iamtakenprisoner。Ishallbeshot。"

Enjolras，notseeingMariusamongthosewhohadtakenrefugeinthewine—shop，hadthesameidea。Buttheyhadreachedamomentwheneachmanhasnotthetimetomeditateonhisowndeath。

Enjolrasfixedthebaracrossthedoor，andboltedit，anddouble—lockeditwithkeyandchain，whilethoseoutsidewerebatteringfuriouslyatit，thesoldierswiththebuttsoftheirmuskets，thesapperswiththeiraxes。Theassailantsweregroupedaboutthatdoor。

Thesiegeofthewine—shopwasnowbeginning。

Thesoldiers，wewillobserve，werefullofwrath。

Thedeathoftheartillery—sergeanthadenragedthem，andthen，astillmoremelancholycircumstance。duringthefewhourswhichhadprecededtheattack，ithadbeenreportedamongthemthattheinsurgentsweremutilatingtheirprisoners，andthattherewastheheadlessbodyofasoldierinthewine—shop。Thissortoffatalrumoristheusualaccompanimentofcivilwars，anditwasafalsereportofthiskindwhich，lateron，producedthecatastropheoftheRueTransnonain。

Whenthedoorwasbarricaded，Enjolrassaidtotheothers:

"Letussellourlivesdearly。"

ThenheapproachedthetableonwhichlayMabeufandGavroche。

Beneaththeblackclothtwostraightandrigidformswerevisible，onelarge，theothersmall，andthetwofaceswerevaguelyoutlinedbeneaththecoldfoldsoftheshroud。Ahandprojectedfrombeneaththewindingsheetandhungnearthefloor。Itwasthatoftheoldman。

Enjolrasbentdownandkissedthatvenerablehand，justashehadkissedhisbrowontheprecedingevening。

Theseweretheonlytwokisseswhichhehadbestowedinthecourseofhislife。

Letusabridgethetale。ThebarricadehadfoughtlikeagateofThebes；thewine—shopfoughtlikeahouseofSaragossa。

Theseresistancesaredogged。Noquarter。Noflagoftrucepossible。

Menarewillingtodie，providedtheiropponentwillkillthem。

WhenSuchetsays:——"Capitulate，"——Palafoxreplies:"Afterthewarwithcannon，thewarwithknives。"NothingwaslackinginthecapturebyassaultoftheHucheloupwine—shop；neitherpaving—stonesrainingfromthewindowsandtheroofonthebesiegersandexasperatingthesoldiersbycrushingthemhorribly，norshotsfiredfromtheattic—windowsandthecellar，northefuryofattack，nor，finally，whenthedooryielded，thefrenziedmadnessofextermination。

Theassailants，rushingintothewine—shop，theirfeetentangledinthepanelsofthedoorwhichhadbeenbeateninandflungontheground，foundnotasinglecombatantthere。Thespiralstaircase，hewnasunderwiththeaxe，layinthemiddleofthetap—room，afewwoundedmenwerejustbreathingtheirlast，everyonewhowasnotkilledwasonthefirstfloor，andfromthere，throughtheholeintheceiling，whichhadformedtheentranceofthestairs，aterrificfireburstforth。Itwasthelastoftheircartridges。

Whentheywereexhausted，whentheseformidablemenonthepointofdeathhadnolongereitherpowderorball，eachgraspedinhishandstwoofthebottleswhichEnjolrashadreserved，andofwhichwehavespoken，andheldthescalingpartyincheckwiththesefrightfullyfragileclubs。Theywerebottlesofaquafortis。

Werelatethesegloomyincidentsofcarnageastheyoccurred。

Thebesiegedman，alas！convertseverythingintoaweapon。GreekfiredidnotdisgraceArchimedes，boilingpitchdidnotdisgraceBayard。

Allwarisathingofterror，andthereisnochoiceinit。

Themusketryofthebesiegers，thoughconfinedandembarrassedbybeingdirectedfrombelowupwards，wasdeadly。Therimoftheholeintheceilingwasspeedilysurroundedbyheadsoftheslain，whencedrippedlong，redandsmokingstreams，theuproarwasindescribable；

acloseandburningsmokealmostproducednightoverthiscombat。

Wordsarelackingtoexpresshorrorwhenithasreachedthispitch。

Therewerenolongermeninthisconflict，whichwasnowinfernal。

Theywerenolongergiantsmatchedwithcolossi。ItresembledMiltonandDanteratherthanHomer。Demonsattacked，spectresresisted。

Itwasheroismbecomemonstrous。

CHAPTERXXIII

ORESTESFASTINGANDPYLADESDRUNK

Atlength，bydintofmountingoneachother’sbacks，aidingthemselveswiththeskeletonofthestaircase，climbingupthewalls，clingingtotheceiling，slashingawayattheverybrinkofthetrap—door，thelastonewhoofferedresistance，ascoreofassailants，soldiers，NationalGuardsmen，municipalguardsmen，inutterconfusion，themajoritydisfiguredbywoundsinthefaceduringthatredoubtableascent，blindedbyblood，furious，renderedsavage，madeanirruptionintotheapartmentonthefirstfloor。Theretheyfoundonlyonemanstillonhisfeet，Enjolras。Withoutcartridges，withoutsword，hehadnothinginhishandnowbutthebarrelofhisgunwhosestockhehadbrokenovertheheadofthosewhowereentering。

Hehadplacedthebilliardtablebetweenhisassailantsandhimself；

hehadretreatedintothecorneroftheroom，andthere，withhaughtyeye，andheadbornehigh，withthisstumpofaweaponinhishand，hewasstillsoalarmingastospeedilycreateanemptyspacearoundhim。Acryarose:

"Heistheleader！Itwashewhoslewtheartillery—man。Itiswellthathehasplacedhimselfthere。Lethimremainthere。

Letusshoothimdownonthespot。"

"Shootme，"saidEnjolras。

Andflingingawayhisbitofgun—barrel，andfoldinghisarms，heofferedhisbreast。

Theaudacityofafinedeathalwaysaffectsmen。AssoonasEnjolrasfoldedhisarmsandacceptedhisend，thedinofstrifeceasedintheroom，andthischaossuddenlystilledintoasortofsepulchralsolemnity。ThemenacingmajestyofEnjolrasdisarmedandmotionless，appearedtooppressthistumult，andthisyoungman，haughty，bloody，andcharming，whoalonehadnotawound，whowasasindifferentasaninvulnerablebeing，seemed，bytheauthorityofhistranquilglance，toconstrainthissinisterrabbletokillhimrespectfully。Hisbeauty，atthatmomentaugmentedbyhispride，wasresplendent，andhewasfreshandrosyafterthefearfulfourandtwentyhourswhichhadjustelapsed，asthoughhecouldnomorebefatiguedthanwounded。Itwasofhim，possibly，thatawitnessspokeafterwards，beforethecouncilofwar:"TherewasaninsurgentwhomIheardcalledApollo。"

ANationalGuardsmanwhohadtakenaimatEnjolras，loweredhisgun，saying:"ItseemstomethatIamabouttoshootaflower。"

TwelvemenformedintoasquadinthecorneroppositeEnjolras，andsilentlymadereadytheirguns。

Thenasergeantshouted:

"Takeaim！"

Anofficerintervened。

"Wait。"

AndaddressingEnjolras:

"Doyouwishtohaveyoureyesbandaged？"

"No。"

"Wasityouwhokilledtheartillerysergeant？"

"Yes。"

Grantairehadwakedupafewmomentsbefore。

Grantaire，itwillberemembered，hadbeenasleepeversincetheprecedingeveningintheupperroomofthewine—shop，seatedonachairandleaningonthetable。

Herealizedinitsfullestsensetheoldmetaphorof"deaddrunk。"

Thehideouspotionofabsinthe—porterandalcoholhadthrownhimintoalethargy。Histablebeingsmall，andnotsuitableforthebarricade，hehadbeenleftinpossessionofit。

Hewasstillinthesameposture，withhisbreastbentoverthetable，hisheadlyingflatonhisarms，surroundedbyglasses，beer—jugsandbottles。Hiswastheoverwhelmingslumberofthetorpidbearandthesatiatedleech。Nothinghadhadanyeffectuponit，neitherthefusillade，northecannon—balls，northegrape—shotwhichhadmadeitswaythroughthewindowintotheroomwherehewas。

Northetremendousuproaroftheassault。Hemerelyrepliedtothecannonade，nowandthen，byasnore。Heseemedtobewaitingthereforabulletwhichshouldsparehimthetroubleofwaking。

Manycorpseswerestrewnaroundhim；and，atthefirstglance，therewasnothingtodistinguishhimfromthoseprofoundsleepersofdeath。

Noisedoesnotrouseadrunkenman；silenceawakenshim。ThefallofeverythingaroundhimonlyaugmentedGrantaire’sprostration；

thecrumblingofallthingswashislullaby。ThesortofhaltwhichthetumultunderwentinthepresenceofEnjolraswasashocktothisheavyslumber。Ithadtheeffectofacarriagegoingatfullspeed，whichsuddenlycomestoadeadstop。Thepersonsdozingwithinitwakeup。Grantairerosetohisfeetwithastart，stretchedouthisarms，rubbedhiseyes，stared，yawned，andunderstood。

Afitofdrunkennessreachingitsendresemblesacurtainwhichistornaway。Onebeholds，atasingleglanceandasawhole，allthatithasconcealed。Allsuddenlypresentsitselftothememory；

andthedrunkardwhohasknownnothingofwhathasbeentakingplaceduringthelasttwenty—fourhours，hasnosooneropenedhiseyesthanheisperfectlyinformed。Ideasrecurtohimwithabruptlucidity；

theobliterationofintoxication，asortofsteamwhichhasobscuredthebrain，isdissipated，andmakeswayfortheclearandsharplyoutlinedimportunityofrealities。

Relegated，ashewas，toonecorner，andshelteredbehindthebilliard—table，thesoldierswhoseeyeswerefixedonEnjolras，hadnotevennoticedGrantaire，andthesergeantwaspreparingtorepeathisorder:"Takeaim！"whenallatonce，theyheardastrongvoiceshoutbesidethem:

"LonglivetheRepublic！I’moneofthem。"

Grantairehadrisen。Theimmensegleamofthewholecombatwhichhehadmissed，andinwhichhehadhadnopart，appearedinthebrilliantglanceofthetransfigureddrunkenman。

Herepeated:"LonglivetheRepublic！"crossedtheroomwithafirmstrideandplacedhimselfinfrontofthegunsbesideEnjolras。

"Finishbothofusatoneblow，"saidhe。

AndturninggentlytoEnjolras，hesaidtohim:

"Doyoupermitit？"

Enjolraspressedhishandwithasmile。

Thissmilewasnotendedwhenthereportresounded。

Enjolras，piercedbyeightbullets，remainedleaningagainstthewall，asthoughtheballshadnailedhimthere。Only，hisheadwasbowed。

Grantairefellathisfeet，asthoughstruckbyathunderbolt。

Afewmomentslater，thesoldiersdislodgedthelastremaininginsurgents，whohadtakenrefugeatthetopofthehouse。Theyfiredintotheatticthroughawoodenlattice。Theyfoughtundertheveryroof。

Theyflungbodies，someofthemstillalive，outthroughthewindows。

Twolight—infantrymen，whotriedtolifttheshatteredomnibus，wereslainbytwoshotsfiredfromtheattic。Amaninablousewasflungdownfromit，withabayonetwoundintheabdomen，andbreathedhislastontheground。Asoldierandaninsurgentslippedtogetherontheslopingslatesoftheroof，and，astheywouldnotreleaseeachother，theyfell，claspedinaferociousembrace。Asimilarconflictwentoninthecellar。Shouts，shots，afiercetrampling。

Thensilence。Thebarricadewascaptured。

Thesoldiersbegantosearchthehousesroundabout，andtopursuethefugitives。

CHAPTERXXIV

PRISONER

Mariuswas，infact，aprisoner。

ThehandwhichhadseizedhimfrombehindandwhosegrasphehadfeltatthemomentofhisfallandhislossofconsciousnesswasthatofJeanValjean。

JeanValjeanhadtakennootherpartinthecombatthantoexposehimselfinit。Haditnotbeenforhim，noone，inthatsupremephaseofagony，wouldhavethoughtofthewounded。Thankstohim，everywherepresentinthecarnage，likeaprovidence，thosewhofellwerepickedup，transportedtothetap—room，andcaredfor。

Intheintervals，hereappearedonthebarricade。Butnothingwhichcouldresembleablow，anattackorevenpersonaldefenceproceededfromhishands。Heheldhispeaceandlentsuccor。

Moreoverhehadreceivedonlyafewscratches。Thebulletswouldhavenoneofhim。Ifsuicideformedpartofwhathehadmeditatedoncomingtothissepulchre，tothatspot，hehadnotsucceeded。

Butwedoubtwhetherhehadthoughtofsuicide，anirreligiousact。

JeanValjean，inthethickcloudofthecombat，didnotappeartoseeMarius；thetruthis，thathenevertookhiseyesfromthelatter。

WhenashotlaidMariuslow，JeanValjeanleapedforwardwiththeagilityofatiger，felluponhimasonhisprey，andborehimoff。

Thewhirlwindoftheattackwas，atthatmoment，soviolentlyconcentrateduponEnjolrasanduponthedoorofthewine—shop，thatnoonesawJeanValjeansustainingthefaintingMariusinhisarms，traversetheunpavedfieldofthebarricadeanddisappearbehindtheangleoftheCorinthebuilding。

Thereaderwillrecallthisanglewhichformedasortofcapeonthestreet；itaffordedshelterfromthebullets，thegrape—shot，andalleyes，andafewsquarefeetofspace。Thereissometimesachamberwhichdoesnotburninthemidstofaconflagration，andinthemidstofragingseas，beyondapromontoryorattheextremityofablindalleyofshoals，atranquilnook。Itwasinthissortoffoldintheinteriortrapeziumofthebarricade，thatEponinehadbreathedherlast。

ThereJeanValjeanhalted，letMariusslidetotheground，placedhisbackagainstthewall，andcasthiseyesabouthim。

Thesituationwasalarming。

Foraninstant，fortwoorthreeperhaps，thisbitofwallwasashelter，buthowwashetoescapefromthismassacre？HerecalledtheanguishwhichhehadsufferedintheRuePolonceaueightyearsbefore，andinwhatmannerhehadcontrivedtomakehisescape；

itwasdifficultthen，to—dayitwasimpossible。Hehadbeforehimthatdeafandimplacablehouse，sixstoriesinheight，whichappearedtobeinhabitedonlybyadeadmanleaningoutofhiswindow；

hehadonhisrighttheratherlowbarricade，whichshutofftheRuedelaPetiteTruanderie；topassthisobstacleseemedeasy，butbeyondthecrestofthebarrieralineofbayonetswasvisible。

Thetroopsofthelinewerepostedonthewatchbehindthatbarricade。

Itwasevident，thattopassthebarricadewastogoinquestofthefireoftheplatoon，andthatanyheadwhichshouldruntheriskofliftingitselfabovethetopofthatwallofstoneswouldserveasatargetforsixtyshots。Onhislefthehadthefieldofbattle。

Deathlurkedroundthecornerofthatwall。

Whatwastobedone？

Onlyabirdcouldhaveextricateditselffromthispredicament。

Anditwasnecessarytodecideontheinstant，todevisesomeexpedient，tocometosomedecision。Fightingwasgoingonafewpacesaway；fortunately，allwereragingaroundasinglepoint，thedoorofthewine—shop；butifitshouldoccurtoonesoldier，toonesinglesoldier，toturnthecornerofthehouse，ortoattackhimontheflank，allwasover。

JeanValjeangazedatthehousefacinghim，hegazedatthebarricadeatonesideofhim，thenhelookedattheground，withtheviolenceofthelastextremity，bewildered，andasthoughhewouldhavelikedtopierceaholetherewithhiseyes。

Bydintofstaring，somethingvaguelystrikinginsuchanagonybegantoassumeformandoutlineathisfeet，asthoughithadbeenapowerofglancewhichmadethethingdesiredunfold。

Afewpacesdistantheperceived，atthebaseofthesmallbarriersopitilesslyguardedandwatchedontheexterior，beneathadisorderedmassofpaving—stoneswhichpartlyconcealedit，anirongrating，placedflatandonalevelwiththesoil。Thisgrating，madeofstout，transversebars，wasabouttwofeetsquare。

Theframeofpaving—stoneswhichsupportedithadbeentornup，anditwas，asitwere，unfastened。

Throughthebarsaviewcouldbehadofadarkaperture，somethingliketheflueofachimney，orthepipeofacistern。

JeanValjeandartedforward。Hisoldartofescaperosetohisbrainlikeanillumination。Tothrustasidethestones，toraisethegrating，toliftMarius，whowasasinertasadeadbody，uponhisshoulders，todescend，withthisburdenonhisloins，andwiththeaidofhiselbowsandkneesintothatsortofwell，fortunatelynotverydeep，tolettheheavytrap，uponwhichtheloosenedstonesrolleddownafresh，fallintoitsplacebehindhim，togainhisfootingonaflaggedsurfacethreemetresbelowthesurface，——allthiswasexecutedlikethatwhichonedoesindreams，withthestrengthofagiantandtherapidityofaneagle；

thistookonlyafewminutes。

JeanValjeanfoundhimselfwithMarius，whowasstillunconscious，inasortoflong，subterraneancorridor。

Therereignedprofoundpeace，absolutesilence，night。

Theimpressionwhichhehadformerlyexperiencedwhenfallingfromthewallintotheconventrecurredtohim。Only，whathewascarryingto—daywasnotCosette；itwasMarius。Hecouldbarelyheartheformidabletumultinthewine—shop，takenbyassault，likeavaguemurmuroverhead。

BOOKSECOND。——THEINTESTINEOFTHELEVIATHAN

CHAPTERI

THELANDIMPOVERISHEDBYTHESEA

Pariscaststwenty—fivemillionsyearlyintothewater。Andthiswithoutmetaphor。How，andinwhatmanner？Dayandnight。

Withwhatobject？Withnoobject。Withwhatintention？

Withnointention。Why？Fornoreason。Bymeansofwhatorgan？

Bymeansofitsintestine。Whatisitsintestine？Thesewer。

Twenty—fivemillionsisthemostmoderateapproximativefigurewhichthevaluationsofspecialsciencehavesetuponit。

Science，afterhavinglonggropedabout，nowknowsthatthemostfecundatingandthemostefficaciousoffertilizersishumanmanure。

TheChinese，letusconfessittoourshame，knewitbeforeus。

NotaChinesepeasant——itisEckbergwhosaysthis，——goestotownwithoutbringingbackwithhim，atthetwoextremitiesofhisbamboopole，twofullbucketsofwhatwedesignateasfilth。Thankstohumandung，theearthinChinaisstillasyoungasinthedaysofAbraham。

Chinesewheatyieldsahundredfoldoftheseed。Thereisnoguanocomparableinfertilitywiththedetritusofacapital。

Agreatcityisthemostmightyofdung—makers。Certainsuccesswouldattendtheexperimentofemployingthecitytomanuretheplain。Ifourgoldismanure，ourmanure，ontheotherhand，isgold。

Whatisdonewiththisgoldenmanure？Itissweptintotheabyss。

Fleetsofvesselsaredespatched，atgreatexpense，tocollectthedungofpetrelsandpenguinsatth

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